Cigarette holder



Aug. 31, 1948. R. D. LYNCH 2,448,105

CIGARETTE HOLDER Filed May 19, 1947 INVENTOR.

Y 6104/ 0. lma/ Patented Aug. 31, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,448,105 CIGARETTE HOLDER Ralph D. Lynch, Los Angeles, Calif. Application May 19, 1947. Serial No. 749,060

Claims.

This invention relates to a cigar or cigarette I holder provided with a pair of gripper jaws adapted to be opened by the cigar or cigarette introduced between them, and automatically clamping the cigar or cigarette after its introduction between them.

It is an object of the invention to construct the cigar or cigarette holder as a unit which can be easily attached to or mounted on or in an ash tray or the like.

It is another object of the invention to reduce the friction of the movable parts of the cigar or cigarette holder to a minimum.

It is a further object of the invention to simplify the construction and the manufacture of cigar and cigarette holders of this type.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a cigarette holder attachable to an ash tray or the like which when the cigarette has burned to a point adjacent the holder the fire will be extinguished thereby, eliminating the possibility of setting fire to papers or other combustible materials.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an ash tray provided with a cigarette holder embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through a cigarette holder showing an embodiment of my invention showing the jaws closed;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the jaws of the cigarette holder in the position assumed with the maximum opening of the holder;

Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the elements of which the cigarette holder is composed.

The device shown in the drawing consists of a pair of gripper jaws I and 2 provided, respectively, with heel projections 3 and 4 which are inserted through an opening 5 in the top wall 6 of a receptacle I. These heel projections contact each other at the place of entrance 8 and are so curved thereat that the jaws l and 2 may swing in opposite directions. During such movement the curved parts of the heel projections are rolling on each other. The parts of the heel projections which are situated within the receptacle are straight and adapted to contact the underside of the top wall 6 when the jaws are closed as shown in Fig. 2.

The heel projections 3 and 4 are provided adjacent top 6 with openings 9 and I0, respectively, and are adapted to receive lugs II and I2 which 2. extend from the borders I3 and M of the opening 5. These lugs II and I2 have enough play within the openings 9 and H] as not to interfere with the rolling movement of the projections 3 and 4.

In the receptacle '1 a horizontal plate is provided which is free to move in said receptacle in vertical direction guided by the side walls of the receptacle. The plate 15 rests on a spring l6 mounted in the receptacle and tends of hold the jaw heel projections 3 and 4 in the position shown in Fig. 2 by means of the plate l5 which is constantly pressed upwardly against the heel projections 3 and 4 by the tension of spring l6. Spring I6 is compressed between plate l5 and a flange Id at the bottom of receptacle 1.

The receptacle 1 may be inserted in a hole or bore in an ash tray as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing or it may be attached by any means to the ash tray or made integral with said ash tray.

The radius of curvature of the jaws l and 2 should be greater than the radius of curvature of the biggest cigar or cigarette to be held by said jaws, and the upper end of the jaws is preferably curved outwardly in order to facilitate the introduction and removal of the cigar or cigarette between the jaws. The distance between the upper ends of the jaws in closed position should be smaller than the radius of curvature of the smallest cigar or cigarette to be held by the jaws.

When a cigar or cigarette is introduced between the ends of the jaws l and 2 the latter are moved outwardly while the heel projections 3 and 4 are rotated downwardly toward each other thereby pressing with their free ends against and moving the plate l5 downwardly against the resistance of spring IS. The position of the movable parts of the device with the maximum opening of the jaws contacting in this position the upper side of top wall 6 is shown in Fig. 3. After the cigar or cigarette has passed the ends of the jaws I and 2, the jaws are moved toward each other by the action of spring l6 and the return movement of plate IE on heel projections 3 and 4. The cigar or cigarette is thereby firmly clamped between the jaws l and 2.

I claim:

1. A cigarette holder comprising a hollow base formed with a top wall and an internal flange at its bottom, said top wall having a diametrical slot with lugs extending inwardly from opposite margins of said slot, a pair of holding jaws formed with heel projections underlying the top wall and adjacent portions extending through said slot and hinged on said lugs, a disc movable in the 3 base and engaging said heel projections, and a spring compressed between said disc and said flange for normally holding the jaws contracted to holding position.

2. A cigarette holder comprising a container having one wall constituting a base plate having an opening therein; an abutment surface opposite to and spaced from said base plate, jaw means extending. from said base plateland pro-,-

vided with aheelprojection extendingthrough:

said opening and formed to prevent the jaw means from being withdrawn from said con-.

tainer; a movable plate underlying said heel projections; and spring means engaging againstiithe. abutment surface and effective to press.saidplateagainst said heel projections to yieldably urge the jaw means toward closediposition;

3. A cigar or cigarette holder comprising, a

mounting member having a base plate" provided with an aperture; a pair-of gripping jaws having heel projections which extend-through the opening' in-said base plate, said heel projections-con tacting' eachother at the'place-of. penetration and being-so curved at the' point: of penetration as to allow a swinging movement of the jaws in opposite directions, and resilient means acting on said heel projections and-urging them-toward the base plate;

4. A cigar or cigarette holder as set forth in claim 10, in which the heel projections are formed to engage with the periphery of the opening in the base plate to hold the jaws in opposed position in said opening.

5. In a cigar or cigarette holder as defined in claim 10, and in which the heel projections of the jaws have such an inclination relatively to the-adjacentiparts of theJawsthat, they limit th closing movement of ftlie-t jaws by; contacting the underside of the bas plate, whereas the opening movement of the jaws is limited by the contact of the same with the upper side of the base plate.

RALPH D. LYNCH.

REFERENCES CITED The: following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES? PATENTS N'umben 

